DIY 999
Ambulance strikes: Families rush loved ones to A&E in their own cars – as list reveals where staff have walked out
DESPERATE families have been forced to rush their loved ones to A&E in their own cars today amid strike action.
It comes as the Health Secretary warned that ambulance workers were putting patients at risk during the walkout today.
6
6
6
6
6
Ten thousand ambulance staff at nine NHS trusts have walked out in the biggest 999 strike for 30 years, in a row over pay and conditions.
The Government yesterday urged Brits to avoid any 'risky' behaviour, including drinking heavily, contact sports like 5-a-side, taking unnecessary car journeys or running in icy weather - to reduce their risk of needing an ambulance.
Unions have pledged to respond to life-threatening calls, but ambulances won't automatically be sent to people suffering heart attacks or strokes, and many patients may be advised to take a taxi to A&E.
One family headed this advice today, after being forced to take their own car to the emergency department.
Read more on strikes
Outside the A&E entrance of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, a 4x4 pulled up earlier today.
On opening the doors of the vehicle nurses rushed to the patient before getting them into A&E.
Soldiers were also seen moving patients in a bid to cover staff who have taken to the picket line today.
- Have you been affected by the ambulance strikes? Get in touch. Email [email protected]
Most read in Health
Steve Barclay said unions have made a 'conscious choice' to inflict harm on patients.
Health Secretary Steve Barclay today pointed the finger at the unions, sparking an angry row over who will be to blame if any patients die.
Writing in today's Telegraph, after last-minute talks broke down last night, Mr Barclay said: "We now know that the NHS contingency plans will not cover all 999 calls.
"Ambulance unions have made a conscious choice to inflict harm on patients."
Urging people to use their "common sense", he warned the NHS is under very severe pressure today, just a day after nurses staged their second day of strike action in a week.
Angry union bosses hit back, laying the blame for any patient deaths as a result of the strike action, firmly at the door of the Government.
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said it was "irresponsible" of the government to refuse to open any kind of discussion or negotiations.
Meanwhile Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said blame for the strike "lies squarely at the floor of the Government".
"I’ve never seen such an abdication of leadership like it in 25 years of negotiating," she added.
Ms Graham this morning called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to clear his diary on Christmas Day to table talks to try and resolve the dispute.
"He wasn't even in the country yesterday," she said.
"This is unfolding in front of his eyes. He's the leader. He's the core decision maker, he needs to get around the table.
"So I say to him today, because I've heard that they're saying we can't get diaries together… all the general secretaries are willing to come and see him to negotiate.
"And if he can't find a day, I'll give him a date, the 25th of December. He won't have any meetings on that day."
Ms Graham added that it's a "simple negotiation" and accused the PM of "absolutely abdicating his responsibility".
It comes as the Health Secretary doubled down on his refusal to negotiate on pay and said next year's independent review is already in progress.
“Obviously that body will then consider the changes in inflation, the other issues that have been raised, all as part of the normal process of looking at next year’s pay, so we should look forward," Mr Barclay told BBC Radio 4's Today Programme.
NHS HOSPITALS CAN'T COPE
The row between Government and the unions comes as NHS chiefs warn hospitals will not be able to keep all patients safe.
"We've entered dangerous territory," warned Matthew Taylor of the NHS Confederation employers group.
Urging people to be sensible during a difficult day, he said "today is not the best day to end up in A&E".
"It's the season of parties, pre-Christmas, so do enjoy yourself but obviously don’t get so drunk that you end up with an unnecessary visit to A&E," Mr Taylor said.
"That’s good advice at the best of times and certainly on today when we know that services are stretched."
Medics have already warned that hospitals are 'full to bursting'.
Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said people will be waiting a long time in A&E.
He said A&E departments were expecting people to turn up in different ways during the ambulance strike, adding: “We’re expecting people with strokes and heart attacks to turn up at the front door.
"Now, because of the delays this has already been happening quite a lot anyway.";
TRUSTS HIT BY STRIKES
In total, staff at nine ambulance trusts across England and Wales are taking part in today's industrial action.
The trusts striking are:
- South East Coast Ambulance Service
- South West Ambulance Service
- London Ambulance Service
- North West Ambulance Service
- South Central Ambulance Service
- North East Ambulance Service
- East Midlands Ambulance Service
- West Midlands Ambulance Service
- Welsh Ambulance Service
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service
Only services in the East of England and Isle of Wight will be unaffected by the walk outs.
What to do if you need an ambulance?
In the event of an emergency you should call 999 or visit your nearest A&E department, however strike action might mean you are delayed or are unable to get the usual level of care you might need.
Different illnesses will be treated differently and NHS bosses have issued guidance on what to do if you think you need an ambulance.
Category 1 calls: These are for the most life-threatening emergencies, such as cardiac arrest and these will be responded to.
Some ambulance trusts have also agreed exemptions and will come out for specific category 2 incidents, which cover conditions such as strokes or chest pain.
Category 3 calls: This would include people who have severe abdominal pain, have suffered a fall, or patients who can be treated in their own homes.
This group is unlikely to be sent an ambulance during strike action, with patient transport services prioritising those with cancer and palliative care appointments.
Military personnel are being drafted in to provide support on ambulance calls during the strike but will not drive ambulances on blue lights for the most serious calls.
Guidance from the North West Ambulance Service states that if you need urgent care, you should first use the symptom checker at NHS 111 online.
You should also call friends or relatives for transport if you need to.
If you have already called 999 to request an ambulance, only call back if your condition has gotten worse or to cancel it.
The Department of Health said you should still call 999 in an emergency.
So far this week, eight trusts have declared critical incidents - before industrial action even started because they were crumbling under pressure.
Unions have warned only life-or-death calls will be guaranteed a response today, with only category one calls - for life-threatening emergencies like cardiac arrest - being certain of a response.
Doctors will be helping to triage all category two calls - incidents like heart attacks and stroke - and if a patient's life is deemed to be at risk they will have the chance to send an ambulance.
Politicians and NHS bosses said Brits should act “sensibly” to take pressure off A&E departments.
Health Minister Will Quince told the BBC: “Where people are planning any risky activity I’d strongly encourage them not to because there will be disruption. Whether it’s, for example, contact sport, they may want to review that.”
Downing Street added: “We would never recommend anyone put themselves in harm’s way on any given day.
“The public, as we saw through Covid, can be trusted to use their common sense.”
NHS England said people should use services wisely and not call 999 unless necessary.
Medical director Prof Sir Stephen Powis said: “People can take sensible steps to keep safe and not end up in A&E. That could be drinking responsibly or checking on a family member or neighbour.”
Efforts to avoid the strike broke down yesterday amid clashes over inflation-busting pay rises.
Mr Barclay said: “I have met with ambulance union reps urging them to honour their commitment to provide responses to life-threatening emergency calls.
As picture of gran, 93, left in agony on floor shocks the nation - pray this is not your mum today amid ambulance strikes
By Sam Blanchard and Sarah Riley
THE family of a gran, 93, left in agony on the floor for 25 hours have spoken of their fears that today’s 999 strike will make the crisis even worse.
Elizabeth Davies was screaming in pain and could not be moved for a day after breaking her hip at a care home.
More patients are set to suffer like Mrs Davies as union ambulance strikes go ahead across England and Wales today.
There will be more shocking waits like that of Mrs Davies, of Llanbedrog, North Wales, who fell on Saturday morning but didn’t get to hospital until Sunday afternoon.
After finally being taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, she endured another 12-hour wait before getting a ward bed.
Son Ian and daughter-in-law Susan, from Pwllheli, said they and the care home phoned for the ambulance service ten times.
Mrs Davies had a pillow propped under her head and a heater put nearby.
And she was given an absorbent pad so she could go to the toilet during the wait.
The family said: “We’re not sure how the surgery has gone until we get there but they’ve put a do-not-resuscitate order on her notes.
“It was very upsetting to see her on the floor screaming in pain.”
Ian added: “It was unacceptable. The whole of the NHS is struggling.”
The Welsh Ambulance Service apologised.
It blamed winter pressures, high demand and staff illness.
The service will be one of ten striking in England and Wales today.
“Ultimately, union demands are unaffordable during these challenging times but, as I’ve said before, I’m open to engaging with unions on how to make the NHS a better place to work.”
Onay Kasab, at Unite, said: “The meeting was made entirely pointless by the attitude of Stephen Barclay who refused to discuss pay.
“How he hopes to get movement and resolve the dispute without discussing the key issue is mystifying.”
Today’s strike is expected to have a worse impact than the nurses’ walkouts and will be followed by a second day of action by ambulance workers in some areas on December 28.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Writing to PM Rishi Sunak, Mr Taylor said: “This is not something NHS leaders would ever say lightly, but many now tell us that they cannot guarantee patient safety.
“On health grounds alone, it is clear we have entered dangerous territory.”
6
Topics